Means and method of positioning plastics



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5. s. DODDS ET AL 1,993,775

MEANS AND METHOD OF POSITIONING PLASTICS Filed April 18, 1932 5Sheets-Sheet 1 q II I I I II II.. II I I I I II II I II I I I II I I I III I I I I I I I I I .I- I I I I I I I I a II I I I I I I I I I I .9: IIII .I I I a I I II I. I II Q I m II I II I Z I I Z II I I ,II II I I III- II I I I. .I I I I I I I I I I I I I II n I I I I I I I I I I I II II II, I II I I I I I I I II I I I..\..,. I, I. I I I I I II I .I I II III II II I I I I I I I I I I- I I I I I I I I I I. I I. II I II II I I II I I I I II II II II I l I I I I II I I I I II II I I I II I I. I II II I I II I I I m. I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I. I II. I I II I II II. I I II II II I. I I. I I I I I II I II II I. 2 II II I I I II II I I I I II I II I .I I I I I I I I I I II I .I I II II I. I I I. III. I II I E I I II I I I6 I I II I wn I II I I I I I .I II .I I I I. I II II I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I II II II II II I .I I II II II II... I. .I .I I I. |LIIL F1I |IL I|I1III|I I: IllmilfiipriFibIIIIIIIQLIILIIII II II a QIH ig: I I m HI I. I m n I II 0 March 12,1935.

March 12, 1935. s, s DODDS E AL 1,993,775

MEANS AND METHOD OF POSITIONING PLASTICS Filed. April 18, 1932 5Sheets-Sheet 2 J J? D FRENCH Q gwuentoa Jim 3% akolmqi March 12, 1935. ss DODDS ET AL 1,993,775

I MEANS AND METHOD OF POSITIONING PLASTICS Filed April 18, 1952 5Sheets-Sheet 3 S .5 Do DDS I D. FRENCH.

gwuemtoz March 12, 1935.

s. s. DODDS ET AL 1,993,775

MEANS AND METHOD O1? POSITIONING PLASTICS Filed April 18, 1952 5Sheets-Sheet 4 8.3. D00 D5. JDFRENC H.

Patented Mar. 12, 1935 v 1 993 775 T TATES PATET orgies MEANSAND METHODOF POSITIONING PLASTICS Stanley S. Dodds, San Benito, and James 1).French, Austin, Tex.

Application April 18, 1932, Serial No. $16,056

1 Claim. (Cl. 94-46) The invention relates to an improvement in aplatform which is adapted to be'vibrated either means and method ofpositioning plastics, such from below or above for the purpose'ofcompactas concrete and other similar substances. ing a plastic masswhich may be positioned In the past various methodshave been devisedthereon.

5 of positioning concrete and similar materials with Another object ofthe invention is to provide, -5

a view or" obtaining a compact formation. It in combination with avibrating platform, a has been found, however, that, with concrete meansof removing the compacted plastic mass which has been positioned inaccordance with the therefrom. latest improved methods of vibrating theconcrete Still another object of the invention is to profrom the top asit is placed, considerable weak- Vide, in combination with a concretemixing'ma- 10 ness is encountered adjacent the bottom of the chine, avibrating platform-upon which the mixed slab. In fact, when sectionshave been removed concrete is adapted to be discharged.

and tested it has been found that in many in- Another object of theinvention is to provide stances a 6" slab of concrete only tests as thea method of positioning concrete by removing a is equivalent of a 4beam, and the weakened portable from beneath the deposited material andtion of the slab has been found to be at the base. to immediately finishthe top surfaceso that the In other words, the bottom portion of'theslab slab is completed. H as positioned was honeycombed and not com-Various other objects of the invention-will readpacted properly. With aview of obtaining'a slab ily appear to those skilled in the art when theof concrete which would'have a strength equivafollowing description isconsidered in connection 20 lent of a beam of concrete of the samethickness, with the accompanying drawings and it is inthe present meansand method of vibrating the tended that the invention shall take variousforms concrete from the base has been devised. and modifications. It isone of the objects of the invention to pro- Fig. 1 is a top plan view ofone form of appa- 5 vide a method of positioning plastics wherein therat-us used in practicing the invention.

body of material being positioned is vibrated from Fig. 2 is a top planview of a modified from the base so that it is compacted uniformly ofthe table or platform used in positioning'the throughout. concrete.

Another object of the invention is to provide Fig. 3 is a longitudinalSectional view through a method of compacting a slab of plastic mateoneform of the platform, taken on the line 3-3 30 rial which is positionedby vibrating the entire of Fig. 1. body as it is being deposited. Fig. 4is a longitudinal sectional View taken on It is also one of the objectsof the invention to the linei4 of Fig. 2 and showing a table whichtrowel the base of a concrete slab while the slab is resiliently mountedfor the purpose of comis being formed and positioned. pacting theconcrete. v I

Another object of the invention is to provide Fig. 5 is a longitudinalsectional view of anan improved method of positioning concrete otherform of the invention wherein the vibrating which includes depositingthe plastic material mechanism is disposed longitudinally of theplatupon a vibrating apron from which it is placed form and wherein alayer oi protective material 40 in its final position. is applied to theunderside of the concrete at the 40 Another object of the invention isto provide time it is positioned. f an improved apparatus forpositioning plastics Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View showing whichincludes a vibrating platform which can another form of the invention.be moved along the surface where the plastic is Fig. '7 is a transversesectional View on the line being positioned. 7-7 of Fig. 2, illustratingone form'of mechanism 45 Another object of the invention is to providefor vibrating the COIIBTete and m vi h Sa a base upon which a vibratingtable is positioned from the platform.

for the purpose of compacting concrete immedi- Fig. 8 is a sideelevation of the complete comately prior to its placement in finalposition. bination showing the mixing machine, the vibrat- Anotherobject of the invention is to provide ing platform and the depositedmaterial. 50

a method of placing concrete which consists in Fig. 9 is a detailedsectional view taken on the compacting the material from the base sothat line 9--9 of Fig. 2, showing one form of the vithe strength of theslab will be uniform throughbrating element which may be used inpracticing out. the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide Fig. 10 is a detailedsection view taken on the 55 line l0-l0 of Fig. 2, and showing one formof the invention for oscillating the table to compact the concrete.

Fig. 11 is a broken detail view of a clutch mechanism which may be usedin manipulating the vibrating table.

Fig. 12 is a broken sectional view showing one form of, the inventionwhich may be used in assisting in the removal of the concrete from thevibrating platform.

Fig. 13 is a broken sectional view showing the platform mounted onresilient blocks to permit its vibration.

The invention will be best understood by having reference to Fig. 8,wherein one form of .rnixing machine is indicated generally at 2. It isto be understood that the form of machine used in mixing the plastic isimmaterial, as far as the present invention is concerned. It is,however,

desirable to utilize a machine which can both mix and. discharge thematerial; the machine illustrated-11s one in general use, the operationis, generally understood,- and a detailed explanation is not believed tobe necessary. It is contemplatedthat the-machine will be capable ofdischarging; the mixed material ashortdistancefrom the. machine. In the,mechanism shown, a discharge bucket or carrier 3 has been shown, whichisrarranged'tocarry a charge of material along the beamisupporteso thatit may be distributed in the general vicinity of the table or platform5. The irregular contour of the deposited material. is.-indicatedgenerally at 6.

The. present invention is. particularly related to. the. means andmethodof depositing the-ma terial-and. one form,- of, the. means includes theapron or table 5. In Fig. 8 this apron is disposed upon. the subg-radea7, and between the forms 8, which define thezslab which is to be formed.The tableis preferably arranged to rest upon-the subgrade. andmaybeprovidedwith an inclined. upper surface 9., which; receives the chargeof plastic material 10. Suitable side boards or' guides 11 may bearrangedadjacent each side of the table 5 to confine the plasticmaterial until, it has been compacted, or until it is practicallydischarged from the top of theztable.

It is intended that the platform 5 may be moved periodicallyin-accordancerwith the general practice: of moving themachine 2: after abatch or several batches of concrete have been deposited upomthe.subgrade. Withthis; end in views. cable or'cables l2 are attached at 13to the forward end of the platform; 5 and are connected to the machine2. A reel 14 is provided on. the machine to carry the cable 12... Oneform which this reel may assume. is shown in Fig. 11. If the platform-5. is to bemaintained at a constant distance from the machine 2, ofcourse, it may be permanently connected to the machine 2 with a lengthof cable. It is, howeven'contemplated that the table 5 may be movedcontinuously while the concrete is being mixed and, deposited thereon,so that there would be a continuous discharge from the rear end 15 ofthe platform or table. With this in mind the reel 14 is provided with aclutch 16, which is manipulated by a handle 17. A. clutch. shaft. 18 maybe arranged for rotation by the. power unit of. the machine 2 at arather slow speed. Thus when the machine 2 is moved forward the clutch16 would be disengaged so that the platform 5. would remain stationaryon the subgrade. When the mixing of the material was begun the clutch 16could be again engaged with the. reel 1-.4; so that the cable '12 wouldbe slowly drawn in. This would cause a slow movement of the platform 5along the subgrade so that it would be withdrawn from beneath the slabof material 10, which was being formed. It is contemplated that eitherthe step by step movement of the platform or continuous movement of theplatform may be practiced.

By having reference to Fig. 1, the general arrangement of one form ofthe platform can be seen. This platform has connected thereto the cables12, which have been previously described. This platform 5 is disposedbetween the forms 8, whichvdefine the width of the slab of materialwhich is being positioned. While the invention isbeing described asapplied to the placing of a stripor. slab of plastic material it iscontemplated that it may be used in building construction, floors,roads, pavements, or under any other suitable circumstances where aconsiderable quantity of material is to be placed. The platform 5 isdisposedbetween the forms Send the weight thereof preferably rests uponthe subgrade "I. The forward end of the table, however, is provided witha. screed or grader blade 20, which is arranged to give a finalsmoothness to the subgrade. This screed 20 may be of the form shown inFig. 3, where it serves as an integral part of the forward end of thetable 5, or it may be of the type shown in-Fig. 2 or 4, wherein it ismore or less of an independent construction, which is arranged tobemounted on a carriage-2l. A carriage 21 is also shownin Figs. 1 and 3,but it is not intended that this carriage shall support any materialamount of the weight of the table because it is desirable to, have aconsiderable portion of the weight of the table applied to the subgradefor the purpose of compacting the subgrade during the placing of theconcrete.

It is contemplated that the table 5 may be vibrated. before and, duringthe time that the concrete is being deposited thereon, wi h a view ofvibrating the concrete mass while it is in plastic form in order toobtain a compacted mass which will have an effective beam strength ofthe thickness. of the slab- In order to obtain vibration of the platformvarious expedients may be employed. The present invention involves.several such expedients, one of which is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6.This form of vibration includes a source of power such as a motor orother element 22. This element tends to rotate a shaft 23, which ismounted in the bearings 24, carried by eitherthe base, 25 of theplatform or by the upper surface 26 thereof. In Fig. 1 the shafts areshown as being mounted upon the base 25. They may, however, be mounted,upon the partitions 27, which serve as spacers between the base 25 andthe top 26. In either event, it is intended that the shafts 23 will, beprovided with eccentric weights or members 29. These weights may bepositioned, as shown in Fig. 1, at different distances along the shaft23, so that when the shaft is rotated by the power unit 22 considerablevibration will be im parted to the shaft and in turn to either or boththe base 25 or the top 26.

Fig. 1 shows the. top 26 broken away to illustrate the mounting of thesevibrators inside of the platform. The shafts 23 preferably extendentirely across the platform, seen in 1, and asmany as desired may bepositioned in the table or platform. It is not contemplated thatvibrators will be needed in each of the compartments formed by thepartitions 2'7 and particularly is this true adjacent the end 15 of theplatform. The greatest vibrationv is preferably had, adjacent the frombeneath the slabs.

forward .end of the platform where the plastic is first positioned. Itseems obvious that the end 15 will be subjected to more or lessvibration because it is integral with the remainder of the platform. Ifthe elements 22 are electric motors, of course, a suitablewiringconnection will be made, but it is intended that these small powerelements may use compressed fluid or be driven by any desired mechanicalmeans. While the invention has been shown in Fig. 1 as embodying aseparate power drive for each of the shafts 23, it is contemplated thata large power unit may be provided to drive all of the shafts, ifdesired.

It is intended that the eccentrics 29 will be rotated or vibrationwillbe otherwise imparted to the top 26 of the table while the concreteor plastic is thereon. If the surface 26 is inclined, as seen in Figs.1, 3, 5 and 8, it is believed that, due to the vibration and theinclination of the table, the concrete will gradually travel along thetable and be discharged from the end 15 directly onto the subgrade. Itis intended that the taper of the table will be such that the edge 15will be rather thin and will not break up the formation of the slab,which has been compacted due to the vibration. As seen in Fig. 8, whenthe material is discharged the surface thereof is rather irregular, asat 6, and may be spread around to some extent directly after it isdischarged, but it has been found that the vibration of the table tendsto more or less level the material and distribute it in an even uniformslab. The vibration from the base causes settling of the material sothat honeycombing and voids are practically eliminated. The material asdischarged from the end '15 of the table is compact and solid, and,after it has set, tests show that a beam strength of equivalent of thethickness of the slab has been obtained, whereas, when slabs are placedby other methods, the beam strength obtained varies in amounts less thanthe thickness of the slab by as much as 50%.

It is intended that the speed of vibration may be varied as desired,because, if the vibration is at too rapid a rate, a differentarrangement of the materials in the concrete has. been obtained. If thevibration is too slow other objections appear and it is intended duringthe development of the invention to vibrate the platform and differentparts of the structure in accordance with the results desired, becauseit is contemplated that under some circumstances one type of concrete isdesirable, whereas under other circumstances a different density'ortexture may be desired. It is thus intended to vary the process ofpositioning the material in accordance with the circumstances which arepresent.

Fig. 8 shows in combination with the device a surface finishingmechanism 30. This machine may be mounted to travel on the forms 8, orto be connected to the machine 2 for movement therewith, or it may bemounted in any other desired manner. It is the intention, however. tofinish the surface ofthe concrete 10 directly afterthe tail of thetablehas been moved The finishing machine may take any desired form, itmerely being the object of the present invention to have a finishingmachine present which will complete the treatment of the slab ofmaterial at the time it is positioned.

it is to be understood that different forms of structure for causingvibration or movement of the table 5 may be employed. Fig. 1 shows theeccentric elements 29 which will impart to the table a vibration tocause compacting of the concrete.

These vibrators are positioned transversely of the table. Fig. 5 shows asomewhat similar construction wherein the motor or drive element 22is'positioned inside of the head of the table with the grader or screed20 positioned on the head. The shafts 23 are arranged longitudinally ofthe table 5' and extend as far as desired along the length of the table.This form of the invention may be more satisfactory where acomparatively thin table is desired, because the motor 22 being thelargest element is positioned at the head or thethick end of the tableand it is only necessary to have sufficient height between the top andbase of the table to permit the rotation of the eccentrics 29. Fig. 5shows the shaft 23 as extending part way along the table but it isintended that it may extend the entire length of the table, if desired.

Fig. 3 shows a section of the form of the invention of Fig. 1 and'showsthe shafts 23 insection as well as the arrangement of the vibrators 35,two of which are positioned upon the forms 8 and arranged for movementeither with the table 5 or independently thereof. These vibrators arebest seen in plan elevation in Fig. 1 or 2, and preferably include avibrating element 36, which is mounted upon a blade or contact element37.

Fig. 9 shows a section of the vibrator 36 wherein the housing 51 ismounted uponthe contact element 3'7. Mounted in the housing 51 is apower unit or drive element 52 which rotates a shaft 53, which shaft isin turn mounted in the bearing 54. An eccentric. weight serves to causethe vibration of the housing 51 and in turn the contact element 37. Thisis merely one form'whi'ch the vibrator may take and this form may beused in other locations throughout the apparatus. Fig. '7 shows thecontact element 37 as being supported by a cross beam 38, but isarranged for vertical reciprocating movement with respect to such beam.The beam 38 is supported by the carriages 39. The blade 37 will movevertically up and down in'accordance with the vibration of theeccentrics which constitute the vibrators 36.

While the contact element 37 has been shown as a solid blade in Fig. '7it is intended that it may assume theform of rods or columns which tendto contact the surface 26 of the platform 5. A spring such as 40 isprovided to assist in quickly returning the blade to contact with theplatform during its vibration.

If a solid blade is used, it is intended that the concrete will bedischarged from the table in batches. As seen in Fig. 3, one batch wouldbe accumulated in the area 41 ahead of the first vibrating elementduring the same period that a previous discharged batch was beingvibrated in the area 42 on the center portion of the plat form. Duringthis period the platform would remain stationary except for itsvibration. When the batch of concrete had been compacted prop erly, thenthe blades 3'7 would be held stationary while the table 5 was moved frombeneath the blades. If desired, however, the blades could be used toassist in vibration of the table to compact the concrete and could thenbe raised while vibration of the table continued to discharge the batch.It is contemplated that either manner of discharging the concrete may bepracticed. If however, the contact elements 3'7 are in the form of rodsor plungers, the carriages 39 may be attached to the carriage 21, sothat they will move as a unit. Then, during the vibration of the tableand the vibration of the contact elements 37, the

concrete or plastic will pass around the rods or plungers and can becontinuously discharged from the table. It is intended that the tablemay be used in any form desired with or Without the use of the vibrators35, and the blades or plungers 37. These have been added for purposesof. disclosure to explain the uses of the structure in connection withthe present method of compacting the concrete from the base. Power forthe vibrators may take any form, as described in connection with theelements 22 used to operate the eccentrics 29.

Figs. 2 and 7 show another form of table which may be employed andwherein the table is constructed in longitudinal segmental portions 45.A plurality of these segments or sections are seen in Fig. 2 and aredisposed side by side to form the complete table. Fig. 7 shows thearrangement for overlapping the adjacent segments wherein one portion ofeach segment is arranged to overlap the adjacent edge of the nextsegment. Any other desired form of connection may be had at this point,however. Each of the segments 45 is arranged for horizontal oscillationby means of a shaft 4.6, which will be rotated by a power unit 47. Theconnection between the shaft 46 and the segments 45 maybe seen in oneform in Fig. 10, wherein an eccentric cam 48 is mounted on the shaft 45and causes oscillation of a connecting rod 19. It seems obvious fromthis construction that the section 45 will be caused to move to the leftand righ as viewed in Fig. 2 and in this manner shake or vibrate anycharge of concrete which is thereon. Ihe cam 48 may be so arranged thatthe movement in one direction will be different from the return motion.Thus the charge of concrete will be caused to adhere to the table whenmoving in one direction, but the movement of the table'will be so fastin the opposite direction that the inertia of the concrete will cause itto move a short distance with respect to the table. When this form ofthe invention is used the table may be mounted upon suitable rollers topermit oscillation thereof or it may be mounted upon springs such as 50,best seen in Figs. 4 and 10.

It is intended that the oscillation of the table shown in Fig. 2 mayoccur in combination with the vibration as shown in either Figs. 1 or 5,or the table may be vibrated by the surface vibrators shown in all ofthe figures except Fig. 5. As previously stated, it is intended that thetable may be vibrated by means of the devices placed inside of the tableor it may be vibrated by the contact members 37 striking the surface ofthe table, or both forms of vibration may be used with or without theoscillation of the table by the eccentrics 48.

Fig. 4 shows the platform 5 with the springs 50 therein, but wherein thetop surface of the platform is disclosed as practically level. When theinvention is so practiced, the end of the table will be inclined as at5'7 in order to permit the concrete to move gradually onto the subgrade.

Fig. 13 shows a broken detail section of another form of the inventionwherein the base 25 is separated from the top 26 of the table by meansof a plurality of resilient members or blocks 58. These members may beformed of rubber so that vibration of the top with respect to the basemay be had. When this form of the invention isused, vibration of the top26 may be accomplished by use of the vibrators 35 and the contactmembers 37 to impart vibration to the table by engaging the surface.

Figs. 5 and 6 show another arrangement of the apparatus wherein a layerof paper or other suitable material 60 may be passed onto the surface ofthe table 5 prior to depositing the concrete on the table. Thus theconcrete would be deposited on top of this layer of protective material.This material may be a waterproof paper or other substance and willserve as a protection for the table while the concrete is being layedand serve to confine the lower surface of the slab to a uniformelevation and to hold the material in place until it has set. One of theprincipal objects of this material is to reduce the friction between theconcrete and the table. Thus, as the table is moved along the paper orother material is unrolled from the reel 61 and permits the table to bemoved readily from underneath the load of concrete, it is intended thatwater or other fluid may be forced in beneath the layer 60 of paper orthat the paper could'be suitably coated so that it would be lubricatedand permit sliding of the table from beneath the material.

Fig. 12 shows a detailed construction of the table wherein a flow ofwater or other fluid may be had on the surface 26 with a view ofassisting in the removal of the mass from the table. Fig. 12 shows aplurality of pipes 63, which are arranged to discharge through theopenings 64 onto the surface of the table. These pipes may be positionedthroughout the length of the table or only adjacent the tail end 15, itbeing intended that water will be forced through these openings so thatit will serve to readily permit withdrawing of the table 5. It seemsobvious that a considerable number of openings 64 will be providedacross the table.

While various forms of the invention have been shown and described, itis contemplated that broadly the invention embody a means and method ofpositioning plastics wherein a table is removed from beneath thematerial so that it will be placed in position in a compacted conditionso that the base will be smooth and of the proper density.

What is claimed as new is:

A process of forming concrete-roadways including depositing the plasticconcrete on a sheet of supporting material, agitating the sheet ofmaterial and the concrete thereon to compact the.

concrete and form a bond with the sheet ofv material, and lowering thesheet of material with the superposed formed slab of concrete thereon tothe subgrade.

STANLEY S. DODDS. JAMES D. FRENCH.

